Collapsible-tube clip-feeding device



Aug. 10 1926.

F. A. WEIMANN COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb: 1Q, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vwentom Aug. 10 1926.

F. A. WEIMANN COLLAPSIBLB TUBE CLIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb 10, 1926 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awuentoz Patented Auge, 1Q, 1926;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND A. WEIMANN, CF SHELTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE VJEIMANN BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION OF CONNECTICUT.

COLLAPSIBLE-TUIBE CLIP-FEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed February 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,317.

This invention relates to a clip feeding device, especially to a device for placing the substantially U-shaped sealing clips on the closed ends of collapsible tubes. Th device shown in the drawing was designed especially for use on the type of'collapsible tube 1 closing machine shown in the patent to Veimann & Bunk, #1,489,723, issued April 8, 1924-, and has for an object to provide an improved mechanism for taking the clips individually from the source of supply and placing them with a positive action on the closed end of the tube, and also to retain the clip in proper position until it has been clamped to the tube.

In the old type of feed where the clips were merely dropped onto the closed end of the tube by gravity, if there happens to be any variation in the clip or the tube, the clip might not be properly placed, causing an insecure sealing of the tube and also giving non-uniform results. These objections are overcome in the present device as it takes the clips with a positive act-ion and places it on the closed end of the tube and holds it in proper position until the tube is sealed, thus assuring a uniform product and a proper sealing of the tube.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings foring a part of this specification, similar reference characters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the clip feeding device placed in position on a tube closing machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent, a portion of the machine being shown in section and the tubes placed in position to receive the clips, and the feeding device being shown in position in readiness to take a clip from the supply mechanism.

Fig. Qis a front elevation of a portion of the device showing it in position to place the clip on the end of a closed tube.

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the jaws after releasing the clip and showing the holding and stripping means in operation to retain the clip on the tube.

said prior patent these tubes are advanced from station to station by a step by step movement in certain timed relation with various mechanisms for closlng the tube, folding over the closed ends, applying the clip and so forth, the tubes moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig, 1. The

.clips used are the ordinary substantially U- shaped sheet metal clips 18 which are fed automatically from a hopper, not shown, to an inclined chute 14. I have shown only the lower portion of this chute as it is from this portion that the clip is transferred by my improved feed device to the closed ends of the tubes. As Wlll be seen in the drawing the U-shaped clips straddle the top edge of this chute and they pass one at a time to the supporting portion at the lower end where there is a stop 15 to properly position the clip on the chute to be gripped by my improved feeding means. The clips are allowed to pass one at. a time to this position by means of the control mechanism comprising a rocking arm 16 pivoted at 17 and carrying spring pressed pins 18. This arm is rocked by a suitable mechanisimnot shown, in certain timed relation with the operation of the feedingdevice and the forward advance of the tubes 12, each rocking movement allowing a clip to pass toa position against the stop 15. A safety device is provided to prevent passage of a clip to this position should for any reason a tube 12 fail to be in a hold er 11. This comprises an upright rod 19 mounted to turn in the bed 10 carrying an arm 20 in alignment with the path of movement of the tubes 12, while above the bed it carries a finger 21 arranged tonormally be in'the path of movement of the clips 13 on the chute, there being a spring within the shell 19', tending to hold it in this position.

It will be obvious that if a holder 11 should pass by the arm without a tube therein the finger 21 would not bemoved away from the path of the clip. Therefore, no clip will pass to the feeding position. If there is' a tube in the holder upon its movement past the arm it will swing the arm 20 outwardly, and at the same time swing the finger'21 away fromthe clip and allow it to pass to the feeding position. i

The clip feeding device comprises a casing 22 mounted on the bed 10 and carrying a transverse shaft 23. This shaft has a suitable driving connection with a main drive shaft 24, this latter shaft corresponding to the shaft 29 in the above mentioned patent which drives the various mechanisms for closing the tubes. The drive'between the shafts 23 and 24 .is shown as spiral gears 25, and thus the shaft 23 and the devices "driven thereby will be operated in certain timed relation with the shaft 24 and the various tube closing devices operated by this shaft, and also the tube feeding mechanism which is operated in certain timed relation therewith. The shaft 23 has a cam 26 which coacts with a roller 27 on an arm 28 of a bell crank lever pivoted in the casing at 29. The other arm '30 of the bell crank is connected by a link 31 with an arm 32 on a tubular bushing 33 mounted to turn in a bearing 34 in the front side of the casing 22. This bushing projects forwardly from the bearing, and mounted on this projecting end so as to turn therewithis a swinging arm 35. The arm may be secured to the bushing by any suitable means such as a set screw 36. This arm is provided with guides 37 and 38 for slides 39, 40, 41 and 42, and these slides are mounted to reciprocate in these guides. They are connected by connecting bolts 43 having threaded engagement with the slides so that by turning these bolts the distance between the slides may be adjusted, it, of course, being understood the opposite ends of the bolts are provided with right and left hand threads to give a turnbuckle effect. The lower slides 41 and 42 are also connected by means of springs, 44 with a stationary portion of the arm, such as the upper guide 37, and tend to lift the slides and retain the rollers 45 and 46 carried by the upper ends of the slides 39 and respectively, in engagement with. the surfaces of operating cams 47 and 48 respectively. These cams are mounted on a transverse shaft 49 having a bearing in the bushing 33, and it projects into the casing 22 where it carries a sprocket 50. This sprocketis driven by means of a chain 51 from another sprocket 52 on the driving shaft 23.

Carried by the slide 41 at the lower end thereof are spring jaws 53, and these jaws areso shaped and arranged that they may be forced over a clip 13 and grip the same on the opposite sides thereof. The lower edges of the sides of the jaws are curved inwardly slightly as shown atv 54 so as to engage under the free edges of the sides of the clip to firmly grip the same. Carried by the slide 42 are a pair of pins or studs 55 and they are locatedat the-opposite ends of the spring jaws 53 and in substantially the same plane therewith. These pins provide holding and stripping means for re ta-ining the clips on the'end of the tube and to strip them from the jaws when the jaws are withdrawn after placing the clip on the tube, and they also hold the clip in position while the clip is being clamped on the tube.

The operation is as follows: Rotation of the shaft 23 from the shaft 24 will, through the chain drive 51, rotate the shaft 49. and" the cams 47 and 48. Rotation of the shaft 23 will also rotate the cam 26 and by coaction of this cam with the roller 27 on the bell crank and the cam 47 will rock this bell crank about its pivot, and through the link 31 and arm 32 will rock the bushing 33 and with it the arm 35 froma position over the clip supportat the lower end of the chute 14, as shown-in Fig. 1, to a position over one of the tubes '12, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Of course, this swinging mo tion of the arm isin certain timed relation with the advance movement of the tubes 12 so that the clip will be transferred from 'the chute 14 and placed on the closed end of the tube immediately after the tube reaches the position under the device. The opposite movements of the arm are limited by the adjustablestops 57 and 58.

In the showing in Fig. 1, the arm 35 has just been swung to a' position over the clip support at the lower end of the chute 14 by action of cam 47 against roller 45. In this position further movement of the cam 47 will, through the projection 59, force the spring jaws 53 downwardly to the dotted line position and cause it to grip the clip 13 on the lower end of the chute. F nrther movement of the cam 47 will allow one of the springs 44 to lift the slide 39v and 41 to raise the spring jaws from the chute and carry with it the clip. The cam 26 also comes into play and swings the arm 35 to the upright position shown in Figs 2 and 3 in alignment with the tube 12. clined wall 60 will then force the spring jaws 53 downwardly, which will force the clip over the tube. The parts will then be The inin the position shown in Fig. 2 and the roller will be in engagen'ientwith the end 61 of the cam. Furthermovement of this cam and the cam 48 will hold the in this, position while the cam 48 forces the slides 40 and 42 downwardly to bring the pins or studs inengagement with the top edge of the clip, as shown in Fig. 3. Further movements of the cams will retain the pins 55 in this position while the spring jaws 53 will be drawn upwardly away from the clip by a spring as, the parts being then in the position shown in Fig. 3. At this time, and while the pins 55 are still in engagement with the clip, the jaws 62 are moved to clamp the sides of the clip against the closed end of the tube to seal the same. These jaws are operated by suitable mechanism, not shown, but which is disclosed in the prior patent above mentioned. The tube is also straightened or positioned by the plate 63 so it is in proper alignment to receive the clip, which plate is also disclosed in said prior patent, as are also the centering fingers 64: which engages the opposite ends of the tube to center the same. After the clip has been clamped on the tubeby the jaws 62, further movement of the cam 48 allows the pins 55 to be raised from the clip, and the arm 35 carrying the spring jaws 53' and the stripping pins 55 is again swung to its original position over the clip support at the lower end of the chute as shown in Fig. 1.

The operating means for the spring jaws 53 may include a spring pressed plunger carried by the slide 39 with normally spaced electrical contacts 66 and 67 carried by the slide 39 and the plunger 65 respectively. Should two clips come to the position at the lower end of the chute 14: in superimposed position the double thickness will force the plunger 65 into the slide and bring the electrical contacts into engagement. The con tacts are connected by leads 68 to a suitable electrical tripping device, not shown, which when tripped will stop the machine.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that reliance is not placed on the action of gravity to place the clips on the end of, the tube, but that there is a positive feed of the clips from the chute to the tubes, and they are placed on the tubes in proper position with a positive operation of the jaws carrying the clip. Thus I have produced a very reliable feeding mechanism which places the clips in proper position and retains them in this position until they are clamped onto the tube by the clamping aws. 1 Having thus set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, means for supporting the tubes, a feeding means for substantially U-shaped clips, movable means for gripping a clip, and means for shifting the clip gripping means to transfer the clip from the feeding means and forcing it onto the closed end of a tube.

2. In a machine for closing filled. collapsible tubes, means for supporting the tubes,

a feeding means for the clips, means for removing a clip from the feeding means and forcing it onto the closed end of a tube, means for pressing the sidesv of the clip together to clamp it to the tube, and means to engage the top of the clip to hold iton the tube during the clamping operation.

3. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, means for supporting the tubes, a feeding means for the clips, a swinging arm, means movably mounted on the arm to grip a clip on the feeding means, means for swinging the arm to move it from a position over the feeding means to a position over a tube, and means for moving the clip carrying means when the arm is in the latter position to force the clip onto the tube.

4. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, a pivoted arm, jaws carried by the arm arranged to grip a clip, said jaws being movably mounted on the arm, a holding means mounted for movement on the arm, means for shifting the arm from a position over the support to a posi tion over a tube to transfer a clip from the support to the tube, means for shifting the jaws to place the clip on the tube and for withdrawing the jaws from the clip, and means for holding the clip on the tube during said latter movement of the aws.

5. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, movable jaws, means for moving the jaws from a position over the clip support to a position over the tube support, and means for moving the jaws toward and from the supports while in these positions.

6. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, a swinging arm, means for swinging said arm to and from positions over the clip support and the tube support, clip gripping means carried by said arm, and means for moving said clip gripping means toward and from said supports while in position over these supports.

7. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, a swinging arm, means for swinging the arm to and from positions over the supports, clip gripping jaws carried by the arm, means for moving the jaws toward the clip support while over this support to grip a clip, means to move the jaws after transfer to a position over the tube to force the clip on the closed end of the tube, a holding means movably mounted on the arm, means for moving the holding means to engage the clip, and means for withdrawing the jaws while the holding means retains the clip on the tube.

8. I11 a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, a swinging arm, slides mounted on the arm, clip gripping jaws carried by one of the slides, a holding means mounted on the other slide, a movable cam for swinging the arm between positions over the tube support and the clip support, a movable cam for reciprocating the slide carrying the jaws while over the supports, and a cam for reciprocating the holder slide while over the tube support.

9. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feedingmeans including a support for the clips, a swinging arm, means for swinging the arm between positions over the supports, slides mounted on the arm, spring jaws mounted on one of the slides adapted to grip the opposite sides of the clip, means to reciprocate said slide while over the clip support to force the jaws over a clip and lift it from the support and to reciprocate the slide over the tube support to force the clip onto the tube and remove the jaws therefrom. a holder mounted on the other slide, and means for reciprocating the certain timed relation with the movements of the arm. 7

11. In a machine for closing filled collapsible tubes, a support for the tube, a clip feeding means including a support for the clips, a swinging arm, clip clamping jaws mounted on the arm, clip holding and stripping means mounted on the arm, movable means for clamping the clip'to the tube, means for swinging the arm between positions over the supports in certain timed relation with the operation of the clip,

clamping means, and means for shifting the jaws and the clip holding and stripping means in certain timed relation with the movements ofthe arm. V

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

FERDINAND A. VVEIMANN. 

